Cup of Coffee: Pitching carries affiliates to victory

4/24 Cup of Coffee: All three affiliates in action took home victories Wednesday behind strong pitching performances. Portland was canceled due to inclement weather.

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The Pawtucket Red Sox topped the Rochester Red Wings (MIN) in a tight game Wednesday by a score of 3-1. Although he didn't get the win, starter Allen Webster (pictured) gave a worthy performance as he struck out six and surrendered only one run in 6 1/3 innings. He entered the top of the seventh inning with the game scoreless, but was charged with an earned run after being relieved by Wilfredo Boscan, who allowed an inherited runner to score on a sacrifice fly. 

The deficit was short lived, however, as the PawSox would rally to score three runs in the bottom of the eight inning. The big inning began with a pair of one-out walks from Alex Hassan and Ryan Roberts. With two runners on, Garin Cecchini delivered a pinch-hit double, his third of the season, scoring two and giving the PawSox the lead. Cecchini would come around to score an insurance run on an RBI-single from Ryan Lavarnway. Lavarnway, who was behind the plate for the game, was the lone Pawtucket player with two hits, going 2 for 4.

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The Portland Sea Dogs were canceled on Wednesday due to inclement weather. They will make up their contest against the Binghamton Mets (NYM) with a doubleheader on May 3. 

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The Salem Red Sox defeated the Lynchburg Hillcats (ATL) by a score of 4-2 Wednesday. After falling down 1-0 in the top of the first inning, Salem responded with runs in the bottom of the third, fourth and fifth innings. The first run of the game came on a Ryan Dent double scoring Matty Johnson, who singled earlier in the inning. In the fourth, Salem netted two runs on an Aneury Tavarez big fly, his first of the season. A David Chester solo home run topped of the scoring for the game and gave Salem the 4-1 lead. Infielder Reed Gragani continued his fast start to the season collecting two more hits. He is currently batting .370 in 11 games. 

Salem's pitching staff delivered a strong performance across the board as four guys combined for nine solid innings of work. The performance was led by Corey Littrell, who went five innings gave up four hits, one run and two walks while striking out four. Behind him Austin Maddox and Madison Younginer combined to pitch three scoreless innings. Dayan Diaz, who pitched the ninth, gave up an earned run on two hits but nailed down the save.

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The Greenville Drive cruised to a 6-0 victory Wednesday over the Asheville Tourists (COL). The Drive jumped out to an early 3-0 lead after scoring in the first two innings. Jimmy Rider, who was 2 for 4 with two doubles, opened the scoring in the first inning. He doubled to lead off the game then would come around to score on a wild pitch. The Drive added two more in the second inning on a pair of doubles from Jake Romanski and Wendell Rijo. Insurance runs were added in the sixth and seventh innings. Four Greenville players collected multi hit games, but the squad was led by Carlos Asuaje, who went 3 for 4 with a double, triple, two runs scored and one RBI. Romanski was 2 for 4 with two RBI and two runs scored. 

Perhaps lost in the 11-hit onslaught was the strong performance on the mound by two Greenville hurlers. Jamie Callahan, who started the game, went five strong innings on the way to his first win of the season. He struck out three while surrendering no runs. He was relieved by Jacob Dahlstrand who pitched the remaining four innings and only surrendered one hit. Dahlstrand struck out three on his way to the save. 

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Player of the Day: Drive left fielder Carlos Asuaje (pictured) had an impressive night at the dish hitting fifth for Greenville. The 22-year-old Venezuelan, who was 3 for 4, collected his fifth multi-hit game in his last 10 contests. In that span, he's produced a line of .441/.568/.824. He already has six doubles and five triples in 15 games this season. 

Photo Credit: Allen Webster and Carlos Asuaje by Kelly O'Connor. 

Luke Lavoie is a Staff Writer for SoxProspects.com.

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